Overview
- Axios reported that Ahmed al-Scharaa is expected to travel to Washington on November 10, citing confirmation of the plan from U.S. Syria envoy Tom Barrack.
- The meeting is expected to include a statement for Syria to join the U.S.-led coalition against the Islamic State, according to the reporting.
- Barrack disclosed the anticipated visit on the sidelines of a security conference in Bahrain, underscoring a diplomatic opening focused on counter‑ISIS coordination.
- If the trip occurs, it would mark the first visit by a Syrian head of state to the U.S. capital.
- The outreach comes as ISIS is deemed militarily defeated yet still active with roughly 2,500 fighters, and as al‑Scharaa, a former leader of a group that split from al‑Qaeda and later fought ISIS, heads Syria’s transitional government after Assad’s ouster.